Locking device with slider



Jn;l` 19, 1954 STEINER 2,666,242

LOCKING DEVICE WITH SLIDER Filed June 24, 1952 a il y f C v INVENYTOR.

af/05 ieur Qzw HTTRNK Patented Jan. 19, 1954 UNITED-STATES lPATENT OFFICE LOCKING DEVICE WITH SLIDER Lajos Steiner, Neutral Bay, New South Wales, Australia,

Application June 24, 1952, Serial No. 295,369

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-205) This invention relates to locking devices for connecting, attaching or coupling parts and structures, and more particularly edges of such parts and structures in a releasable manner.

The present invention has been devised to provide means toglock releasably edges of any selected length. A further purpose is to furnish a positive and safe form for fastening or coupling edgewise parts, structures or fabrics in a releasable manner. A still further purpose is to provide a releasablelocking and fastening device which lends itself to a wide range of application in connection with both rigid and flexible structures.

According to the invention, the device consists broadly of three parts: a first element containing a jaw portion with an opening into the jaws at one side edge thereof, such element extending alongthe side of the structure to which the device is to'be tted, said jaw portion containing also locking means; a second element extending along the side of the part to be attached to said structure, having means to engage in the said locking means of the rst element; and a third, operating member slidably mounted on said iirst element which releases the first and second elements. The closing action is effected by simply pressing the second edge element into the jaw of the first edge element, whilethe opening action is performed by moving the third, operating member edgewise in either direction.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a View in perspective of the first edge element;

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the second edge element;

Fig. 3 is a similar View of the third, operating element;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the compensating member slidably located inside of the nrst edge element;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the housing of the second edge element;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of a modied form of the second edge element, not requiring separate housing;

Fig. '7 is a sectional elevation of the entire assembly;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the first and second edge elements locked together;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the rst and second edge elements, with locking means disengaged;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the first and second edge elements in the process of separation;

Fig. 1l is a sectional elevation of portions of the iirst edge element and the modified form of the second edge element (Fig. 6) in locked position.

Referring to Figures 1 to 11 inclusive, the rst edge element a is roughly of rectangular shape, having face a2, lip a3, chamfer a9, side face al, and may be made of metal or plastic material.

The second edge element b, also made of metal or plastic, has ridge bl capable of engaging into said first edge element a, and also has a second ridge b5 to locate it in housing g. This element can be formed of any number of separate, identical pieces, and is housed in housing g, having cavity gl and lip g2 to retain said second edge element b, held in place by spring h, which may be a coil, or preferably leaf spring.

However, by making second edge element b of sufficiently springy material, it may be combined with the housing g, eliminating the need for separate spring or'springs h. Such a modication and combination is shown in Fig. 6, designated as 1c which thus would take the place of the entire second edge element combination consisting of the parts b, g and h.

Compensating member e shown in Fig. 4 consists of any number of separate, identical units, slidably located inside of rst edge element a, and held in place by springorgsprings f which might be coil, or leaf spring or springs.

Sliding or operating member c shown separately in Fig. 3 is slidably mounted on the rst edge element a.

To fully understand the operation of the device and the functions of each individual part, it is advisable to refer to Fig. 8 rst wherein the sectional view shows two edge elements in locked position. Ridge bl of the second edge element b is trapped against face a2 of iirst edge element a and face b9 of second edge element b is blocked by face e2 of compensating member e; ridge b5 is retained by lip g2 of housing g. Thus the two edges are firmly and positively united and cannot be opened without other means, which fact makes it easy to provide special locking arrangements with a suitable key, preventing unauthorized opening, By varying length a: shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 on the second edge element b a considerable degree of tolerance may be achieved without effecting the rmness of the locking device.

The ends of rst edge element a and the housing g are closed, or blocked by suitable means. First edge element a may be attached to one edge of the structures to be coupled, by welding, rivet- 3 ing, screws or otherwise, and similarly the housing g of the second edge element is attached to the other edge to be coupled, or united with the rst edge.

Fig. '7 shows the assembly in operation. Compensating member e is dislodged by sliding member c, and actuated by spring f, it is ready to return and block said second edge element bf from reengagement. Second vedge element b is almost fully dislodged by said sliding member c. As the sliding member c releases compensating member e and second edge element b, the open position shown in Fig. 9 will be reached, from whichl the two parts can be pulled apart. The opening is positive in the sense that face e8 of thecompensating member e now opposes face b1 of the second edge element b and under pressure by spring f will lead the second edge elementb as far out as necessary to prevent it from re-engaging.

`To close the device, the two sides merely need to be pushed or slammed together as shown in Fig. 10. Ridge bl of second edge element b abuts against chamfer a9, and is forced down. Rounding or chamfer D8 starts to engage the compensating member le dislodging it until ridge bl passes face a3. Actuated by spring h and by rounding or chamfer eB of `said compensating member e, said second edge element b snaps into closed position shown in Fig, 8.

To open, the sliding or operating member c is pushed in either1 direction. Chamfer or rounding c6 of said operating member c contacts compensating member e and overcoming resistance of spring f, gradually dislodges compensating members e one after the other. As soon as face e2 of said compensating member e clears face b9 of the second edge element b, c'hamfer or rounding c1 of sliding member c contacts ridge bl and overcoming rresistance of spring h, gradually pushes second edge elements b into open'position, one after the other and the resultant position is shown in Fig. 9.

It is believed that from the above description and attached drawings those skilled in the art will fully understand the construction and operation of the device which is readily adaptable for a great variety of applications, including watchbands, handbags, boxes, and luggage. Changes in the form or size of parts, or their arrangement may be made, or parts may be combined, without departing from the spirit of the invention which is not limited to the specic construction shown and described, and from which departures may be made within the scope of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

vl. A locking device of the type described, having, in combination, a first edge element, a second edge element and a sliding member; said iirst edge element consisting of an elongated strip of material vdivided by a longitudinal opening, having on its inside a longitudinal recess, and having a longitudinal lip, and having inside said longitudinal recess a plurality of resiliently supported locking members; said second edge element consisting of a plurality of members resiliently held byv a longitudinal housing, said-,mem-

bers having ridges engaging into the lip of said first edge element `and locked in place by said locking members inside said longitudinal recess of said rst edge element;4 said sliding member being slidably mounted on the outside of said rst edge element and having guides protruding inside said longitudinal recess, displacing said resiliently supported locking members vand disengaging said ridges of said secondedgevelement from said lip of the lirstedge element.

2. A locking device as described in claim l, wherein the locking members are formed -in a series of parts of substantially right angularconstruction with the edges charnfered.

References Cited in the le'olf this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

